U.S. 'obsessed' over reporter: Mahathir

U.S. 'obsessed' over reporter: Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The United States is "obsessed" over
the jailing of a Canadian journalist in Malaysia even though he
was convicted of breaking the law, Prime Minister Mahathir
Mohamad said on Wednesday.

He was referring to Murray Hiebert, Malaysia bureau chief for
the Far Eastern Economic Review, who last month was sentenced to
six weeks in jail for "scandalizing the court" in a January 1997
article.

Hiebert became the first journalist to be imprisoned in
Malaysia in the line of duty and the first to be jailed for
contempt in a Commonwealth country in 50 years. He is set to be
released on Oct. 11.

The court's decision drew criticism from Canada, the United
States and rights groups who said it stifled free speech.